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Offered languages
- English
- English
In the last 1,000 years, Nicosia has been conquered by the French, Venetians, Ottomans, and British, leaving the capital of Cyprus still divided to this day. On this self-guided walking tour through the old city, you'll uncover the tell-tale clues of this complex past etched into sites like the Venetian coat of arms on Famagusta Gate. Starting beside the Liberty Monument, you'll follow part of the Venetian Walls before winding through the old city centre, hearing how 300 years of French reign, Venetian ambition, and Ottoman rule each changed the city's fate. Along the way, discover churches with precious icons and frescoes, walk streets where schools and homes stand abandoned near a military zone, and find the dividing line that only one country in the world recognises. The tour ends in front of the Archbishop's Palace.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at The Liberty Monument. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Tour ends at Archbishop's Palace
Itinerary
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Medieval Venetian Walls (Pass by)
Follow part of the Venetian Walls, contemplating their hasty construction against the Ottoman siege. Take in these imperfect defenses, which ultimately enabled the Ottomans to conquer the city.
Admission ticket free -
Famagusta Gate (Pass by)
Catch a glimpse of the Venetian coat of arms on Famagusta Gate. Discover this tell-tale clue of the city's complex past, etched into the stone itself.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Reach the Taht-el-Kale quarter, whose name means "the lower castle" in Turkish, referring to the lowest part of the fortress near Famagusta Gate. Discover how this neighbourhood became a bustling trade hub, where goods arriving from the Famagusta harbour were first unloaded in the city.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Catch a glimpse of the Church of Agios Kassianos, believed to date back to the 18th century, though possibly built on the site of an earlier Byzantine-era church. Discover this quiet corner of the old city, home to one of Nicosia's many neighbourhood churches.
Admission ticket free -
Archbishop's Palace (Pass by)
End your tour in front of the Archbishop's Palace. Take in this fitting conclusion to a journey through Nicosia's 1,000-year history of conquest and resistance.
Admission ticket free -
Liberty Monument (Pass by)
Begin your tour next to the Liberty Monument. Discover the four-year struggle for independence that this landmark commemorates, along with a few other tidbits related to the city's British occupation.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Catch a glimpse of the Holy Church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa, considered the oldest Byzantine church in Nicosia and sometimes dated to the 5th century. Discover its rich collection of old and rare icons, a legacy rebuilt around 1450 by Queen Helena Palaeologina.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass by the monument to Archbishop Kyprianos, publicly hanged here on July 9, 1821, along with hundreds of other prominent Cypriots. Discover how this event marked a turning point in relations between the island's communities.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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